Mounting of coins in the pages of coin albums

ABSTRACT

The coin album page has a pair of superimposed sheets of plastic material secured together around their marginal edges. The sheets having a plurality of registering spaced circular holes extending therethrough. A plurality of circular transparent plastic coin holders, adapted to hold coins hermetically sealed therein, are pivotally and removably mounted in at least some of the holes, the coin holders being of less diameter and of less thickness than the holes in the sheets. And releasable locks are provided for normally maintaining the coin holders in the plane of one face of the page, whereby when the locks are released the coin holders may be rotated on their pivots to bring and lock the reverse side of the coin holder and coin into the plane of the same face of the album page.

United States Patent [1 1 [1 11 3,844,410 Cook Oct. 29, 1974 MOUNTING OFCOINS IN THE PAGES OF COIN ALBUMS [76] Inventor: Luther N. Cook, 26 N.Washington St., Tiffin, Ohio 44883 [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1973 [21] Appl.No.: 355,446

[52] US. Cl 206/.83, 206/.84, 49/390, 206/45.15 [51] Int. Cl B6511 5/50,A45c 11/00 [58] Field of Search 206/.83, .84, .82, 45.15, 206/45.34;49/390 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,074 7/1909 Brownet al. 190/16 1,957,157 5/1934 Bosch 206/45.l5 2,139,150 12/1938 Curtiset al. 206/.84 2,258,535 10/1941 Buranelli 206/.84 3,229,809 l/1966Spadaro 206/.82 3,474,572 10/1969 Rothemund 49/390 3,782,537 l/l974Segel 206/.83

Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Alexander & Dowell [5 7] ABSTRACT The coin album page has a pair ofsuperimposed sheets of plastic material secured together around theirmarginal edges. The sheets having a plurality of registering spacedcircular holes extending therethrough. A plurality of circulartransparent plastic coin holders, adapted to hold coins hermeticallysealed therein, are pivotally and removably mounted in at least some ofthe holes, the coin holders being of less diameter and of less thicknessthan the holes in the sheets. And releasable locks are provided fornormally maintaining the coin holders in the plane of one face of thepage, whereby when the locks are released the coin holders may berotated on their pivots to bring and lock the reverse side of the coinholder and coin into the plane of the same face of the album page.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MOUNTING F COINS IN THE PAGES DF @GINALBUMS DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to coin albumsof the like, and more particularly to the mounting of coins in the pagesof said coin albums. According to my invention, the pages of the albumwill comprise solid color plastic sheets which are preferably formed ofsuperimposed upper and lower sheets of shell-cast plastic of suitablethickness secured together around the peripheral edges. The sheets havecircular holes of desired size extending therethrough adapted to receiveplastic coin holders for the coins which are pivoted in the holes onmetallic pivot pins and are normally locked in the plane of the page bynovel releasable metallic lock members, so that when the lock membersare released or inoperative the coin holders with the coins sealedtherein may be flipped over on their pivots to observe the reverse orobverse sides of the coins.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a coin album of theabove type which provides a separate protective show case for each coin;whereby both surfaces of the coins and including their narrowed edgesmay be observed at any time, and it is not necessary to invert the albumor page to see the reverse side or edge of the coin; also to provide analbum page of the above type in which there are no frayed edges on thepages and in which there are no slides over the coins; also to providean album in which each coin may be removed from a page without exposingother coins on said page to air, moisture and fingermarks; also toprovide an album page in which the coins can be moved from one hole toanother so that there will be no need for that empty hole situation, andso that the coins can be arranged according to any desired manner asregards regular sets, varieties, types, errors, or any other groupsdesired.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a page of an albumholder as above described in which the diameter and thickness of thecoin holder will be somewhat less than the thickness of the page inwhich it is mounted; also to provide an album page which will protectvarious sizes and various amounts of coins; and to provide a holder soconstructed that because of the flip feature it is not necessary to turnthe album or page upside down to view the reverse side of any coin.

Further objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof, to enableothers familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and willsummarize in the claims, the novel features of construction, and novelcombinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a page of the album showing anarrangement of circular coin holders pivotally mounted on diametric axeswithin the circular holes in the page.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing one coinholder lock member in inoperative position to permit the coin holder tobe flipped over on its pivots to expose on the page the reverse side ofthe com.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on the line d-d, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse section through a lock memberassociated with a coin holder.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse section through one of the pivots of acoin holder.

As shown in the drawing, the album page is formed of complimentarysheets of solid color plastic which are shell cast and the sheets ofeach page are superimposed and are snap-locked together as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Extending through the page are circular holes 1 f forreceiving the coin holders as herein after described, the holes beingspaced on the sheets in any desired manner.

Each page of the album comprises an upper sheet la and a lower sheet Ibeach sheet Ia, 1b, being provided around its marginal edges with :athickened rim 1c (FIGS. 3 and 4); and one rim (such as lb) carrying atongue lld (FIGS. 3 and 4) adapted to snap engage a corresponding groovein the overlying thickened rim 1c of the other sheet (such as la) sothat when the precast sheets lla, 1b, are superimposed and pressedtogether the tongue and grooves M will snap-lock together around theentire edges of the page, thereby holding the sheets lla, 1b securelylocked together.

The sheets Ia and lb are also provided with thickened rim portions Ie(FIGS. 2, .3 and 4) extending around each of the circular openings Iffor the coin holders, and also in way of the pivot pins 5 and lock pins8 (hereinafter described). By this construction when the sheets la, 1bare locked together the major portions of each album page will beinternally hollow except around the holes If, the pivot pins 5, and thelock pins 8, and around the edges of the sheets la, lb, which latterwill be rounded to avoid rough edges.

Disposed in each or any opening If in the album page la, lb is aremovable coin holder ll shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, thesame comprising a circular cup-shaped member 2a having upstanding sides2b provided with an annular shoulder 20 at its upper end, adapted toreceive a plastic cover 3, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The coin holder 2as shown is somewhat less in overall thickness than the overallthickness of the album page la, 1b, and when the cover 3 is removed, acoin C may be placed in the coin holder 2 as shown, and the coin holdercover 3 then replaced in the holder 2 to hermetically seal the coin inthe holder. If desired, a narrow strip of plastic (not shown) may beplaced inside the rim 2b of the holder 2 to engage a worn rim of a. coinC, to keep a worn coin C from rotating in the holder 2 when sealedtherein.

Each coin holder 2 is pivotally mounted in its hole lf of the page la,1b by means of yieldable pivots, shown more particularly in FIG. 6. Eachpivot comprises a barrel 4 having a closed end and an open endterminating in an inturned annular flange 4a; and slidably mountedwithin the barrel 4 is a plunger 5 extending beyond the flange 4a. Acoil spring 6 is housed within the barrel 4 between the closed endthereof and the inner end of the plunger 5 normally urging the plunger 5to project out of the barrel 4. Each barrel 4 is mounted incomplimentary diametrically disposed semi-cylindrical grooves in thethickened rim 1e of the sheets la, lb adjacent the opening If at thetime the sheets are secured together, as above described; and the outerend of each plunger is adapted to fit or gauge diametrically disposedholes or holes in the outer side walls 2b of the coin holders 2 as shownmore particularly in FIG. 4, so that the coin holders 2 will bepivotally mounted in the holes 1f of the page la, Ib and may be flippedover in the manner indicated in FIG. 2 when the locks which normallymaintain the coin holders 2 in the plane of the album page Ia, 1b are inreleased" position.

As shown in FIG. 3 the lock means for maintaining the coin holders 2 inthe plane of the album page Ia, lb comprises a cylinder 7 having aclosed end and an open end terminating in an inturned annular flange 7a,and slidably mounted within the barrel 7 is a plunger 8 extending beyondthe flange 7a of the cylinder.

A coil spring 9 is disposed within the cylinder 7 interposed between theclosed end thereof and the inner end of the plunger 8. On the plunger 8is a thumb lug 8a as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 so that the plunger 8may be disengaged from a hole 10 (FIG. 2) in the side wall 2b of thecoin holder 2 by pressure of the thumb against the thumb lug 8a againstthe action of the spring 9, so that the outer end of the plunger 8 isdisengaged from the hole 10 in the side wall 2b of the coin holder 2,whereupon the coin holder 2 may be flipped over on pivot pins 5 as shownin FIG. 2 so as to bring the opposite side of the coin into the plane ofthe album page la, lb. In order to remove a coin holder 2 from the pagela, lb, it is only necessary to release the lock pin 8 then rotate thecoin holder 2 to a substantially vertical position out of the plane ofthe page 1 a, 1b as shown in FIG. 2 then push the coin holder 2laterally of its pivots 5 so as to clear one of the pivot pins 5whereupon the coin holder 2 will be permitted to come out of its normalpivoted position in the hole 1f of the album page.

I claim:

1. In combination, a coin album page comprising a pair of superimposedsheets of plastic material secured together, said sheets having aplurality of registering spaced circular holes extending therethrough; aplurality of circular transparent plastic coin holders adapted to holdcoins therein disposed in at least some of the holes; said coin holdersbeing of less diameter than the said holes; means for pivotally andremovably mounting the coin holders in said holes respectively; andreleaseable means for normally locking the coin holders in the plane ofone face of the page, whereby when the releaseable means is released thecoin holders may be rotated on their pivots to bring the reverse side ofthe coin holder into the plane of the same face of the album page.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim I, said sheets beingshell-cast and having corresponding thickened rims around their abuttingmarginal edges, the rim of one sheet being provided with a tongueextending therearound, and the rim of the other sheet being providedwith a tongue receiving groove extending therearound whereby the edgesof the sheets may be snaplocked together.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim I, each coin holder comprisinga flat circular cup-shaped body member having an annular upstanding sidewall provided with an internal annular shoulder at its upper end; saidbody member receiving said coin below said shoulder; and a transparentplastic cover seated and secured on said shoulder to seal the coin insaid coin holder, whereby both faces and the edge of the coin will beplainly visible through the coin holder.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim I, said pivot means comprisinga pair of barrels housed in complimentary semi-cylindrical grooves inthe sheets disposed diametrically of the holes; said barrels having aclosed end and having an open end adjacent the hole terminating in aninternal annular plunger retaining flange; a plunger in each barrelextending through said open end and into a detent in the side of thecoin holder; and a coil spring in each barrel interposed between theclosed end of the barrel and the inner end of the plunger for normallyretaining the plunger in said detent.

5. In acombination as set forth in claim I, said locking meanscomprising a barrel housed in complimentary semi-cylindrical grooves inthe sheets disposed normal to the pivotal axis of the coin holder, saidbarrel having a closed end and leaving an open end adjacent the holeterminating in an internal annular plunger retaining flange; a plungerin said barrel extending through said open end and into a detent in theside of the coin holder; a coil spring in said barrel interposed betweenthe closed end of the barrel and the inner end of the plunger fornormally retaining the plunger in said detent; and a lug on the plungerspaced from its outer end adapted to be engaged by a persons thumb toapply pressure against the action of the spring to effect release of theplunger from said detent thereby permitting the coin holder to beflipped over on its pivots in said hole.

6. In combination, a coin album page comprising a pair of superimposedsheets of plastic material secured together around their marginal edges,said sheets having a plurality of registering spaced circular holesextending therethrough a plurality of circular transparent plastic coinholders adapted to hold coins hermetically sealed therein disposed in atleast some of the holes; said coin holders being of less diameter and ofless thickness than the said holes; means for pivotally and removablymounting the coin holders in said holes respectively; and releasablemeans for normally locking the coin holders in the plane of one face ofthe page, whereby when the releasable means is released the coin holdersmay be rotated on their pivots to bring and lock the reverse side of thecoin holder into the plane of the same face of the album page.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6, said sheets beingshell-cast and having corresponding thickened rims around their abuttingmarginal edges, the rim of one sheet being provided with a tongueextending therearound, and the rim of the other sheet being providedwith a tongue receiving groove extending therearound whereby the edgesof the sheets may be snap- Iocked together; and said sheets having othercorresponding thickened rims around the circular holes and around thepivot means and lock means whereby the major portions of the album pageswill be hollow except around the holes, the pivots, the locks, andaround the marginal edges of the pages.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 6, each coin holder comprisinga flat circular cup-shaped body member having an annular upstanding sidewall provided with an internal annular shoulder at its upper end; saidbody member receiving said coin below said shoulder; and a transparentplastic cover seated and secured on said shoulders, whereby both facesand the edge of the coin will be plainly visible through the coinholder.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 6, said pivot means comprisinga pair of barrels housed in complimentary semi-cylindrical grooves inthe sheets disposed diametrically of the holes; said barrels having aclosed end and having an open end adjacent the hole terminating in aninternal annular plunger retaining flange; a plunger in each barrelextending through said open end and into a detent in the side of thecoin holder; and a coil spring in each barrel interposed between theclosed end of the barrel and the inner end of the plunger for normallyretaining the plunger in said detent.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 6, said locking meanscomprising a barrel housed in complimentary semi-cylindrical grooves inthe sheets disposed normal to the pivotal axis of the coin holder, saidbarrel having a closed end and leaving an open end adjacent the holeterminating in an internal annular plunger retaining flange; a plungerin said barrel extending through said open end and into a detent in theside of the coin holder; a coil spring in said barrel interposed betweenthe closed end of the barrel and the inner end of the plunger fornonnally retaining the plunger in said detent; and a lug on the plungerspaced from its outer end adapted to be engaged by a persons thumb toapply pressure against the action of the spring to effect release of theplunger from said detent thereby positioning the coin holder to beflipped over on its pivots in said hole.

1. In combination, a coin album page comprising a pair of superimposedsheets of plastic material secured together, said sheets having aplurality of registering spaced circular holes extending therethrough; aplurality of circular transparent plastic coin holders adapted to holdcoins therein disposed in at least some of the holes; said coin holdersbeing of less diameter than the said holes; means for pivotally andremovably mounting the coin holders in said holes respectively; andreleaseable means for normally locking the coin holders in the plane ofone face of the page, whereby when the releaseable means is released thecoin holders may be rotated on their pivots to bring the reverse side ofthe coin holder into the plane of the same face of the album page.
 2. Ina combination as set forth in claim 1, said sheets being shell-cast andhaving corresponding thickened rims around their abutting marginaledges, the rim of one sheet being provided with a tongue extendingtherearound, and the rim of the other sheet being provided with a tonguereceiving groove extending therearound whereby the edges of the sheetsmay be snap-locked together.
 3. In a combination as set forth in claim1, each coin holder comprising a flat circular cup-shaped body memberhaving an annular upstanding side wall provided with an internal annularshoulder at its upper end; said body member receiving said coin belowsaid shoulder; and a transparent plastic cover seated and secured onsaid shoulder to seal the coin in said coin holder, whereby both facesand the edge of the coin will be plainly visible through the coinholder.
 4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said pivot meanscomprising a pair of Barrels housed in complimentary semi-cylindricalgrooves in the sheets disposed diametrically of the holes; said barrelshaving a closed end and having an open end adjacent the hole terminatingin an internal annular plunger retaining flange; a plunger in eachbarrel extending through said open end and into a detent in the side ofthe coin holder; and a coil spring in each barrel interposed between theclosed end of the barrel and the inner end of the plunger for normallyretaining the plunger in said detent.
 5. In a combination as set forthin claim 1, said locking means comprising a barrel housed incomplimentary semi-cylindrical grooves in the sheets disposed normal tothe pivotal axis of the coin holder, said barrel having a closed end andleaving an open end adjacent the hole terminating in an internal annularplunger retaining flange; a plunger in said barrel extending throughsaid open end and into a detent in the side of the coin holder; a coilspring in said barrel interposed between the closed end of the barreland the inner end of the plunger for normally retaining the plunger insaid detent; and a lug on the plunger spaced from its outer end adaptedto be engaged by a person''s thumb to apply pressure against the actionof the spring to effect release of the plunger from said detent therebypermitting the coin holder to be flipped over on its pivots in saidhole.
 6. In combination, a coin album page comprising a pair ofsuperimposed sheets of plastic material secured together around theirmarginal edges, said sheets having a plurality of registering spacedcircular holes extending therethrough a plurality of circulartransparent plastic coin holders adapted to hold coins hermeticallysealed therein disposed in at least some of the holes; said coin holdersbeing of less diameter and of less thickness than the said holes; meansfor pivotally and removably mounting the coin holders in said holesrespectively; and releasable means for normally locking the coin holdersin the plane of one face of the page, whereby when the releasable meansis released the coin holders may be rotated on their pivots to bring andlock the reverse side of the coin holder into the plane of the same faceof the album page.
 7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6, saidsheets being shell-cast and having corresponding thickened rims aroundtheir abutting marginal edges, the rim of one sheet being provided witha tongue extending therearound, and the rim of the other sheet beingprovided with a tongue receiving groove extending therearound wherebythe edges of the sheets may be snap-locked together; and said sheetshaving other corresponding thickened rims around the circular holes andaround the pivot means and lock means whereby the major portions of thealbum pages will be hollow except around the holes, the pivots, thelocks, and around the marginal edges of the pages.
 8. In a combinationas set forth in claim 6, each coin holder comprising a flat circularcup-shaped body member having an annular upstanding side wall providedwith an internal annular shoulder at its upper end; said body memberreceiving said coin below said shoulder; and a transparent plastic coverseated and secured on said shoulders, whereby both faces and the edge ofthe coin will be plainly visible through the coin holder.
 9. In acombination as set forth in claim 6, said pivot means comprising a pairof barrels housed in complimentary semi-cylindrical grooves in thesheets disposed diametrically of the holes; said barrels having a closedend and having an open end adjacent the hole terminating in an internalannular plunger retaining flange; a plunger in each barrel extendingthrough said open end and into a detent in the side of the coin holder;and a coil spring in each barrel interposed between the closed end ofthe barrel and the inner end of the plunger for normally retaining theplunger in said detent.
 10. In a combination as set forth in claim 6,said locking means comprising a barrel hoUsed in complimentarysemi-cylindrical grooves in the sheets disposed normal to the pivotalaxis of the coin holder, said barrel having a closed end and leaving anopen end adjacent the hole terminating in an internal annular plungerretaining flange; a plunger in said barrel extending through said openend and into a detent in the side of the coin holder; a coil spring insaid barrel interposed between the closed end of the barrel and theinner end of the plunger for normally retaining the plunger in saiddetent; and a lug on the plunger spaced from its outer end adapted to beengaged by a person''s thumb to apply pressure against the action of thespring to effect release of the plunger from said detent therebypositioning the coin holder to be flipped over on its pivots in saidhole.